Mike Goudreau Jazz Band to Perform Haskell Benefit

Mike Goudreau, one of the Eastern Townships' favourite home-grown jazz and blues musicians and songwriters, will be doing what he does best at the Haskell Opera House on the evening of June 18.

Goudreau, along with four of his fellow musicians, has agreed to hold a benefit concert for the Haskell. The band will also be recording a live album, "Live at the Haskell Opera House," which will eventually be available for sale at the Haskell and elsewhere.

Accompanying Goudreau on the international stage will be Jonathan Boudreau on upright bass, Jean-François Bégin on drums, Sylvain Daigneault on piano, and special guest Maurice "Mo" St-Pierre on clarinet, along with another surprise guest.
The concert, which will be recorded in its entirety, will include classics by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Duke Ellington, as well as some of Goudreau's own original compositions.

Mike Goudreau's involvement with community projects over the years is well known, and it was without any hesitation that he volunteered his talents to put on a show for the benefit of the cash-strapped Haskell.

"I really wanted to do something to help keep this great old gem alive for future generations," he said. "It's an amazing venue to perform in, and to listen to music, and I thought the event would be even more special if we were to record a live album."

The Haskell Opera House is at 1 Church Street in Stanstead. Concert goers should make sure that they park their vehicles on the Canadian side of the border. Passports are not required when entering the premises on foot.

Tickets to this benefit performance are $15. For more information, contact the Haskell box office at (819) 876-2471 (ext 205), or visit www.HaskellOpera.org.